[Solved] Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?

Q81. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

India, having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.

Statement-II:

Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is Correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: 3

Statement I is correct. Both conventional (thermal, nuclear, and hydro) and renewable (wind, solar, biomass, etc.) energy sources are used to produce electricity in India. However, the majority of electricity is produced by coal-fired thermal power plants, which provide about 58% of the total electricity. In the year 2021–2022, approximately 3.15 per cent of the nation’s electricity was generated using nuclear energy.

Statement II is incorrect.

Uranium enrichment of U235 isotope 3 to 5 percent is required for electricity generation. Research reactors use uranium that has been highly enriched to a concentration of at least 20%. At least 90% enriched Uranium is considered as weapons grade uranium.